Piling bar



Patented Oct. 26, 1943 Ernest W.

Rieger, Clarence. J. Klein, and Peter R. Church; Weirton, W. Va.

Application July 5, 1940, Serial No. 343,944

This invention relates to a rolled shape and, in particular, to a member known as 'a piling bar used in the construction of bulkheads, coifer dams or other structures which may be made of sheet piling. v Numerous forms of piling bars have been proposed heretofore and it is the general object of our invention to improve upon previous forms oi such members, particularly. in respect to the interlocking portions thereof whereby adjacent bars are secured together in edge-to-edge abutment to, form a continuous wall. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, our piling bar comprises a web having an enlargement or bulb along one edge and a groove along the A transverse section through the bulb other. is ovate in shape and the shape of the groove conformsgenerally to that of the bulb. The bar of our invention will be described in greater detail below-with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating-the preferred embodiment. In the drawing;

Fig. 1 is an GildjVlGWOf two piling bars embodying our invention assembled together by their interlocking portions; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the abutting edges of a pair of adjacent bars. Referring now in detail to the drawing, our piling bar, indicated generally at 10, comprises a web H having an enlargement or bulb I 2 along one edge and a groove [3 along the other. The web II is of modified Z-shape including a central web portion l4 and auxiliary web portions l5 and I6 extending at an oblique angle to the central web portion and parallel to each other.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the bulb or enlargement I2 is substantially ovate or pear 'shaped in section. having a greater radius of curvature at one end I! than at the other [8 and a maximum radius at the exposed side. The

bulb section is defined throughout by a smooth curve of gradually varying radius. The ends of the bulb section are directed laterally of the piling bar as a whole. The enlargement is joined to' 4 Claims. (CL 61-62) structural laterally from the flange, the flange and wall being disposed in such manner as to suggest the shape .defined by the thumb and fore-finger in grasping relation. The flange 2!! has a bead or shoulder 22 therealong adapted to extend into the curve joining theend [8 of the enlargement i2 and the connecting web 19,

The wall 2| includes a base portion adjacent the auxiliary web IS, an extreme edge portion,

and a curved portion intermediate therebetween.

The groove I3 is similar in shape to the enlargement 12 but is somewhat larger, thus pro viding an easy sliding fit therebetween and permitting considerable angularity between adjacent bars, as indicatedby the extremerpositions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the ends of the ovate sections, through the ,bulb and groove having the smaller radius of curvature extend in opposite directions. It is necessary therefore, to turn alternate bars end for, end in order that the enlargement-fit properly in the groove. This provides a wall 23 which may be conceived of as composed of a plurality of trough-shaped sections arranged side by side, as indicated in Fig. 1, with the auxiliary webs l5 and I6 parallel to the neutral axis of the wall-section indicated at 24.

It is thus impossible to drive the bars with the line connecting the centers of the bulb and groove lying in the plane of the neutral axis 24. The major axes of the sections through the enlargement l2 and groove l3 extend generally transversely of the wall 23 thereby providing an especially strong interlock.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the piling bar of our invention is characterized by numerous advantages over the shapes of the bars used heretofore. for similar applications. .The modified Z-shape of the section provides a high resistance to buckling either under the longitudinal force applied in driving or the lateral thrust of the pressure of the material retained by the wall. In other words, the shape'has a high section modulus. The bar also has a high ratio of width to sectional area so that a relatively small number of bars provides a wall of substantial width. Stated in another way, the bar of our invention has a relatively low weight per foot of length and per square foot of wall area.

The bulb-and-claw joint composed of the bulb or enlargement l2 and the groove l3has a high strength in resistance to pulling apart and weight of the bar is about 29 pounds per linear in foot and about 22 pounds per square foot of wall and the section modulus is about infi.

Although we have illustrated but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that changes may be made in the details thereof as to shape, arrangement, or the like, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims. 7

We claim: a I

l. A joint for sheet piling bars comprising a bulb extending alongone side of a piling bar, and a groove mating with said bulb, extending along the adjacent side of aneighboring bar, said bulb having an ovate shape in section','the ends of the section being directed laterally of the bar, one side of the section being exposed and the other side merging with the remainderof the bar, said section being defined throughout by a smooth curve of a gradually varying radius of curvature, said radius being greater at one end of said section than at the other, and a maximum at said exposed side, said groove conforming closely in sectional shapeto said bulb but having free clearance therefrom at all points.

2. A joint as specified in claiml characterized by concave cylindrical surfaces the sections of which are defined bycircular arcs, between said bulb and the remainder of the bar. U V v 3. A joint for sheet piling'bars comprising a bulb extending along one side of a piling bar, and a groove mating with said bulb, extending along the adjacent side of a neighboring bar, said bulb being pear-shape in section, the ends of the section being directed laterally of the bar, one side of the section being exposed and the other side merging with the remainder of the bar, said section being defined throughout by a smooth curve of a gradually Varying radius of curvature, said radius being greater at one end of said section than at the other, and a maximum at said exposed side, said groove conforming closely in sectional shape to said bulb but having free clearance therefrom at all points and being defined by a flange having a raised bead therealong and a laterally extending wall, said wall tapering toward its free edge and being so curved that said edge is opposite said bead.

4. A joint for sheet piling bars comprising a bulb extending along one side of a'piling bar, and a groove mating with said bulb, extending along the adjacent side of a neighboring bar,

said bulb being pear-shaped in section, the ends of the section being directed laterally of the bar, one side of the section-being exposed and the other side merging with the remainder of the bar, said section. being defined throughout by a smooth curve of a gradually varying radius of curvature,said radius being greater at one end of'said section than at the other, and a maximum at said exposed side, said groove conforming closely in sectional shape to said bulb but having free clearance therefrom at all points and being defined by a flange lying generally in the plane of the adjacent portion of said neighboring bar and having a raised bead therealong, and a laterally extending wall, said wall tapering toward its free edge and being curved so that said edgeis opposite said bead. j

, ERNEST W.RIEGER. CLARENCE J. KLEIN. PETER R. CHURCH. 

